Biscuit machine



May 19; 1942. w. AQTHUM BISCUIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOB Wa/fer 77mm- 14 oEA/E Y May 19, 1942.

W. A. THUM BISCUIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nl'lllllIHHI Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BISCUIT MACHINEWalter A, Thum, St. Louis, Mo, assignor to Papendick, Inc., St. Louis,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application Januar 29, 1940, Serial No.316,140

3 Claims. (01. row-25) This invention relates generally to bakingmachines and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvementin machines adapted especially for the automatic cutting and panningofbiscuit dough-bodies and the like.

My invention has for its primary objects the provision of a machineuniquely constructedfor automatically progressing or feeding adoughsheet of predetermined or adjustably selected thickness and width,subdividing the sheet into a plurality of dough-bodies having thedesired biscuit, ro l, or bun shape, and then panning such dough-bodiesin spaced arrangement for 7 baking.

My invention has for a further object theprovision of a machine of thetype and for the purpose stated whichwill perform such operations in acontinuous and timed sequence with a minimum of labor and at arelatively high speed, thereby effecting material economies in bakerycosts, which eliminates the employment of human hands in the forming andpanning of the biscuit or other dough-bodies, thereby greatly increasingthe sanitary characteristics of biscuit production, and which is highlyeflicient in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (four sheets) Figures 1 and 2 are brokenplan and side elevational views, respectively, of a biscuit-doughcutting and panning machine embodying, my invention;

Figure Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the machine,partly broken away and in section, the brake-pedal being omitted;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the machine,showing the doughcutting dies in normal, raised or elevated position andthe dough-feed or lay-over plate in forward position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially broken awayand in section of the machine, showlng the dough-cutting dies in de--pressed or lowered dough-engaging and panning position;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the belt-timingand driving mechanism of the machine; and

. 3 is an enlarged fragmental side elevational view of the machine:

forwardly presented side rails 2 suitably rigidly secured, in turn, tosecond 'or intermediate upstanding side .frames B also forming part ofthe body of the machine and likewise suitably rigidly joined in spacedparallel aligning relation with respect to the framesA.

Bolted or otherwise secured upon in turn, bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to upstanding front frames C also forming part of the body ofthe machine and similarly joined by suitable cross-members 4 in spaced 7parallel aligning relation with the intermediate frames B and rearframes A, the front frames (1 being provided, for purposes presentlyappearing, with upwardly projecting supports 5, all as best seen inFigure 2.

Journaled at its ends in, and extending horizontally between, the framesA, is an idle shaft 6, mounted upon which intermediate the frames A is'a preferably wooden drum 1.

Similarly Journaled in, and extending transversely between, theintermediate frames. B and disposed horizontally in alignment with theshaft 6, are spaced parallel shafts 8, 9,'which project outwardly at oneend for mounting gears 10, ll, and'sprockets I2, l3, the latter beingcon nected by means of a suitable chain I 4,

Intermediate the .framesB, the shafts 8, 9, support suitable drum's l5,l6, preferably similar in structure and dimension to-the drum 1. Itshould benoted that the shafts 8, 9, are, sumciently spacedlongitudinally of. the machine so that the drums l5, l6, wil1 besuitably spaced circumferentially for purposes presently appearing.

Also journal ed at its ends in, and projecting through, the intermediateframes B, is a shaft .11, mounted upon one projecting end of which is apinion II for meshing engagement with the Figure 8 illustratesperspectively a plurality of 5;

gear ll.- -Mounted upon the other end of the shaft ",i a gear I! formeshing engagement with the drive pinion 20 of a conventional 'electheframes 1 B, are second or intermediate side rails 3 again,

pended between the frames B and conventionally connected to any suitablesource of power (not shown) by means of an electric conduit and afoot-switch s, the latter being suitably aocessibly located adjacent thefront end of the machine,

'as'bestseeninFigure 2.

The gear I! is provided concentrically upon a side face with abrake-drum 2| for operative disposition within a strap-type brake-band22 suitably attached at one end in an eye-block 23, in turn, pivotallymounted upon a pintle 24 set into and projecting inwardly from theadjacent frame B for swingably. supporting a depending link 25, theband22 having its other end mounted in an eye-block 25 pivotally mountedupon, and intermediate the ends of, the link 25, as shown in Figure 2.

At its lower end, the link 25 is pivotally mounted in a clevis-block 2|fixed upon the rearwardly presented end of a conventional tum-buckle rod.25 provided at its other end with a similar clevis block 25 for pivotalconnection with the angularly projecting leg 35 of a bell-crankpedal Epivotally mounted adjacent the front end of the machine, as shown inFigure 2, in a conventional Swingably mounted on'the opposite ends ofthe shaft 5 and projecting upwardly a suitable distance above the upperend of the frames B, is a pair of links 32 slotted longitudinallyintermediate their ends, as at 33, for shiftably receiving respectivestuds 34 each having a respective lock-nut assembly 35 at its outer end.At its inner end, each stud 34 is rigidly fixed in a slideblock-35suitably bored for shiftably accommodating an adjustment-rod 31extending longitudinally of the machine and diametrally enlarged andthreaded at an end, as shown, for engaging an upstanding leg 35 of aU-shaped bracket 35 bolted at its bight upon the upper face of a sideTraveling over and around the drum 1, l5, and riding freely over theupper face of the tableboard 45, is an endless rear or primarybeltconveyor 45 fabricated preferably of canvas or other suitablematerial. Similarly trained for traveling over and around the drums I5,45, and

riding freelyover the upper face of the tableboard 41, is an endlessfront or secondary beltconveyor 55 also fabricated preferably of canvasor other suitable material. I

Welded or otherwise suitably fixed upon the respective'forwardlypresented faces of the rear frames A and-the respective rearwardlypresented faces of the front frames C, are oppositely L- shaped brackets5| for slidably accommodating journal blocks 52 rotatively supportingconventional belt tightening idler rolls 53. Threaded on the brackets5|, are vertically disposed screws 54 for adjustably shifting the blocks52 and their supported rolls 53 and tightening or loosening theconveyor-belts 45, 55, as may be required.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured upon the upper marginal faces ofthe forward frames'C, are transversely aligned U-shaped brackets Ihaving relatively widely spaced upstanding front and rear ears 54, 55.The rear ears 55 are formed with upwardly projecting extensions econnected transversely of the machine by a re-enforcing frame B andhaving a second upwardly presented leg spaced a substantial distanceforwardly from the leg 35 and likewise suitably bored for rotatively andshiftably accommodating the forwardly presented end of theadjustment-rod 3'l.

Joumaled in and extending transversely of the machine betweenthe links32, is a shaft 4| supporting a preferably wooden drum 42, ad-

hesively fixed upon the periphery of which is a preferably smooth canvascovering 43. At its one end, the shaft 4| projects outwardly through alink 32 and has fixed thereto a gear 44 for meshing engagement with thegear l5.

Journaled in, and extending transversely of the machine between, theforward side frames 0, is a shaft 45 supporting an also preferablywooden drum 45 inhorizontal alignment with, and of the same diameter as,the drums I, I5, and I5. Marginally secured upon, and extendinghorizontally between, the frames C, is a preferably wooden table-board41 having its upper face in a plane tangential to-the drumsl5, 46,andterminating at its rear and front ends in concaved marginal facesadjacent and complementary to the respective drumslt, 45.

Similarly mounted along its longitudinal margins upon, and extendinghorizontally between,

the intermediate frames B, is 9. preferably wooden table-board 48 alsohaving an upper face disposed in the same plane as the table-board 41.and likewise terminating at its rear and front ends in concavedmarginal faces adjacent and complementary to the drums I, I5,respectively.

tending free rolling shaft 55 provided with a pair of cutter-disks orwheels 5| suitably spaced trans- .versely of the machine, as best seenin Figure 1 Centrally upon the rearwardly presented face of the beam 55,is a U-shaped bracket 52 having vertically spaced parallel legs 53provided with suitably threaded aligning apertures for accommodatingopposed adjustment screws for positioning engagement with the forwardlyextending tail-piece 55 of an adjustment-dog 55 suitably pinned orotherwise fixed upon the rod 58. Also suitably mounted upon andextending rearwardly from the cars 55 in suitable operativejuxtaposition to the cutter wheels 5|, are conventional so-calleddeflection blades 51, all as best seen in Figures 1 and 2 and forpurposes presently fully appearing.

Mounted at their ends in, and extending transversely between; each ofthe pairs or sets of bracket-ears 54, 55, are parallel horizontallyaligned rods ;55 for shiftably supporting slide blocks 55 each providedwith outwardly projecting pintles 15 for rocking engagement withforwardly presented arms II, in turn, at their for ward ends pivotally(connected, as at 1,2, to links 13 keyed or fixed attheir lower end uponthe outwardly extending ends of a transverse rock shaft '14 joumaled foraxial oscillatory movement in the frames C, as best seen in Figures 3and 4.

Also pinned or otherwise fixed at an end upon one of the outwardlypresentedends of the rockshaft I4, as best seen in Figure 3, is anauxiliary and projecting laterally outwardly from a side face of, aframe C, as best seen in-Flgure 3.

Also pinned or otherwise fixed upon the rockshaft 14 preferably midwaybetween the side frames C, is an actuating lever 82 provided at itsouter or free extremity with a foot pedal 83 and adapted intermediateits ends for shock-absorbing abutment with a conventional spring-pressedcushioning plunger 84 mounted in a U-shaped cross brace 85 extendingtransversely between, and rigidly secured at its ends upon, the sideframes C, as best seen'in Figures 3 and 4.

Spirally coiled on the shaft 14 and attached at one end to an abutment86 fixed on the shaft 14 and at its opposite end to a stud 81 upon theinner face of the adjacent side frame C, for purposes presentlyappearing, is a torsion spring 80.

The side frames C are cut away or slotted along their upper margins, asat h, for seating a transversely extending slide-board 89, and

- suitably fixed upon the frames C and extending transversely of themachine over the board 89, is a rectangular die-plate 90 provided with aplurality of suitably shaped, spaced, and arranged punch-accommodatingopenings 9i, the plate 90 being also so positioned that its upper faceis dis? posedin a horizontal plane slightly below the plane of the upperface of the secondary belt 50.

Upstanding from the four corners of theapertured die-plate 90, are fourposts 92, and shiftable on the posts 92 over the apertured plate 90, isa horizontally disposed head-plate 93, the upward movement of the plate93 being limited by stop-washers 94 and cushioned by washers 95 suitablysecured on the posts 92, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Fixedto, and depending from the under face of, the head-plate 93, is aplurality of open-bottomed cylindrical punch-members 96 positioned anddiametrally sized for co-operation with the openings 9| and each formedat its lower end with a so-called blunt shearing peripheral face ormargin, as at m, the plate 93 being also provided with a dependingknife-blade 91 extending transversely of the machine and having itscutting edge n disposed in a plane substantially above the plane of therespective shearing margins of the punches 96 and rearwardly of theshearing-edge of the die-plate 90, as best' seen in Figure 5. I

Provided upon the upper'face of the plate 93 iii machine between, theslide blocks 69, isa horizontally disposed so-called lay-over plate I09having its under face substantially in the plane best seen in Figure 5.As also seenin Figure 1,,

the plate I09, at its front "end at, is slightly wider than the trimmeddough-sheet and at its rearportion is provided with upturned earsI09'pivotally connected to links II, II, in turn, pivoted ,to studsextending from the slide-blocks 69 for allowing the plate I09 to layflat 'on the convey- 'or-belt 50, the blocks 69 being connected foralignment for a V-shaped strip 11.

Journaled in the arms 5 and extending transversely of the machine indownwardly spaced relation to the rock-shaft I03, is a horizontallydisposed hinge-shaft III held from axial movement by a pair ofconventional set-collars I I2 disposed in abutting engagement with thearms 5, and pinned or otherwise fixed upon the shaft III, is anobliquely downwardly presented catch-flap H3 resting lightly along itslower margin upon the upper face of the lay-over plate "39f all as bestseen in Figures 4 and 5 and for purposes presently fullyappearing, I

Fixed upon the die-plate 90 along its forwardly presented transversemargin, is an apron II4 ex.-

tending arcuately forwardly and downwardly for discharge into a chute II5 supported between the side frames C for discharging, in turn, into aconventional catch-box I I6 removably disposed upon the floorintermediate the side frames C, as shown.

Fixed to or upon the board 89 and projecting laterally outwardly of themachine beyond one of centrally of its longitudinal margins, aretransversely aligned lugs 98 for supporting a transversely disposed rod99, pivotally attached to which, is a pair of spaced parallel links I00,in turn, suitably pivotally connected to a pintle IOI retained in placeby set-collars IN" and intermediate the links I00 rockably supportingthe forward end of a suitably elongated link I02 pinned or otherwisefixed adjacent its rear end upon a rock-shaft I03 journaled in, andextending transversely of the machine between, the arms 5, the link I02having a preferably rod-like rearwardly presented extension I04 forshiftably supporting a counter-weight I05.retained in adsposition bymeans of aset screw or the e- Also pinned or otherwiseflxed at oradjacent an end upon the rock-shaft I03 preferably ad erably positionedfor convenient manipulation by anoperator standing in front of themachine. Mounted on, and extending transversely of the the side frames Cthrough the opening or slot h,

is a supplemental board IIB, slidable upon the upper'face of which is atray-board I I9 having a manipulating handle I20 and supporting ashallow tray-like receptacle I2I for positioning successive baking pansI22 suitably beneath or under the die-plate openings 9| for receivingthe punched dough-bodies F, all as best seen in Figure 6. y

In use and operation, the baker prepares a suitable dough-batch,depending upon the particular type of rolls or biscuits which are to bebaked. A suitably rolled and subdivided sheet of the dough-batch isplaced upon the conveyorbelt 49. Thereupon. the operator depresses thefoot switch a, thereby energizing the motor D, which, in turn, rotatesthe gear I9, shaft I'I, pinion I0, and gear II. Then, as the gear II isrotarily driven in the direction of the arrow, in Figure 7, the sprocketI9 is similarly rotated and,

through the chain, I4, drives the sprocket I2, the

gear I0 meshing with the gear 44., Hence the primary conveyor 49, thesecondary conveyor 50,-

and the sheeting roll or drum 42 are simultaneously or conJointlydriven, it being noted, however, that the conveyor 49 will be driven ata slightly slower forward speed than the secondary conveyor 50 and thesheeting roll 42. as a result of the speed reduction'ratio between thesprock-' ets l2 and l3.

The portion of the dough-sheet which as been deposited upon the primaryconveyor49, is accordingly fed over the plate or board 48' and betweenthe secondary conveyor 50 and the sheeting roll 42. By reason of thefact that the sheeting roll 42 and the secondary conveyor 50 aretraveling at a somewhat more rapid rate of speed, the dough-sheet ispractically pulled beneath the sheeting roll 42, resulting in theformation of a substantially uniform dough-sheet and preventing anytendency of the dough-sheet'to pile up in back of the sheeting-roll 42.It will be understood that the thickness of the dough-sheet may beselectively varied by altering the space between the periphery of thesheeting roll or drum 42 and the upper face of the secondary conveyor 50by threadedly shifting the adjustment rods or screws 3 and theassociated slide blocks 36 horizontally' forwardly or rearwardly, as maybe desired. Depending upon the direction in which the slide blocks 36areso shifted, the supporting links 32- will be swung forwardly orrearwardly, as the case may be, thereby shifting the studs 34 within theslots 33 andaccordingly swinging the sheeting roll 42 toward or awayfrom the upper face;

of the secondary conveyor 50,

As the dough-sheet progresses forwardly, the same passes beneath thecutting disks GI and is marginally trimmedto a predetermined width, andthe trimmed strips t are obliquely deflected by the blades 61 to thesides of the conveyor 50, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 1, so asto clear the forwardly presented portion of the lay- -over plate I09 andbe carried around by the conveyor 50 for discharge through the chute IISinto the catch-box H6 for removal. i

The trimmed dough-sheet continues its forward progressive movement untilits forward portion aligns with the lip IIO of the lay-over plate I09.The operator then releases the switch s, which, in turn, opens theoperating circuit, the operator then. bydepressing, the pedal E,tightening the brake band 22 upon the drum 2| and bringing the conveyors49, 50, to rest. It may here be stated that the portion or section ofthe dough-sheet initially placed upon the primary conveyor 49 shouldpreferably, though not necessarily, be

'sumcient in relation to the particular thickness been brought. to rest,extend from the lay-over plate lip I I0 rearwardly across the secondaryconveyor 00 and terminate slightly forwardly of the sheeting roll 42.

Thereupon, the operator, under foot-pressure upon the pedal 02,depresses the actuating lever '82, axially oscillating the rock-shaft l4and swinging the links 10 and arm- Ii forwardly. Then, as the links 13swing forwardly, the slide blocks 90 are shifted forwardlyalongthe'slide rods 90, thereby shifting the lay-over plate I09forwardly over the die-plate openings 9|, so that .the lay-over platelip III will extend slightly be- "wardly against thepull or tension ofthe spring 00, thus rotating the sprocket I4, such 1 rotary movementthereof being-transmitted through the roller friction clutch]! to thedrum 4., thereby shiftingthe secondary conveyor I0 forwardly a distancesubstantially equal to the distance which the lay-over plate I0! isshifted. c

Thereupon, the operator removing foot -pressure from the pedal 09, therock-shaft I4 and the I3 and farm 15 swing back to s the tray board II9shifted back into initial posi- The lay-over plate I09 is therebyshiftably returned to initial position, but, by reason of the fact thatthe reverse rotary movement of the sprocket I8 is not transmittedthrough the roller friction clutch 19 to the drum 46, the secondaryconveyor 50 remains stationary. Accordingly, the dough-sheet continuesto project over the upper face of the die-plate 90, any tendency of thedough -sheet to shift rearwardly upon return movement of the lay-overplate I09 being overcome by the catch-flap H3, which functions in themanner of a ratchet.

'I'hepperator then grips the hand-grip I08 and, by swinging the leverIII'I downwardly, lowers the head-plate 93 and shifts the punch-members96 through the so interposed dough-sheet, thereby cutting outcorrespondingly shaped individual biscuit dough-bodies, pressing thesame through the die-plate openings 9|, and depositing the doughbodiesin neat row arrangement in the respective recipient underlying bakingtray or pan I22 ready for baking, as shown in Figure 8.

At the same time, the transverse cutting blade 91 shears off the punchedportion of the doughsheet from the sheet proper, and then, as thehand-grip I08 is released, the counter-weight I05 swings the link I02 inreverse direction and causes the head-plate 93 to move upwardly toinitial position.

Thereupon, the operator again depresses the pedal 03, swinging the lever02 downwardly and again causing the lay-over plate I09 and the secondaryconveyor 50 to move forwardly in the same manner as previouslydescribed. Upon this successive operation, however, the forwardly-presented arcuate lip I I0 of the lay-over. plate I09 helps theoperator to sweep the waste or residual portions of the previouslypunched dough portion forwardly over the apron H4 and through the chute.I I5 into the catch-box Hi. When the pedal 83 is released, the lay-overplate I09 returns asbefore to its initial position, having deposited asuccessive portion of the dough-sheet upon the upper face of thedie-plate 90 for successive biscuit or roll-forming operation.

Meanwhile, the previously successively filled pans or baking traysI22'are shifted from beneath the die-plate 90 by sliding the tray-boardI I9 outwardly over the extended portion 'of the auxiliary board Ill andmanually removed for successive conventional bakery treatment. An emptybaking tray I22 is placed in the positioning tray I2I and tion, 50 thatthe empty baking tray I22 is brought into biscuit-receiving positionbeneath the dieplateopeningsfl.

During thesesuccessive biscuit or roll cutting and panning operations,the dough-sheet will be progressively moved toward the forward or cut-,ting end of the machine, as previously described, by the successivemovements-of the secondary conveyor 50. By reason of the fact, however,that the sprocket II is connected by means of a roller friction clutchI3, this intermittent movement will not be transmitted to the primaryconveyor 49 and the latter will-remain stationary to permit theope'ratorto form and place thereon a suitable successive dough portion.-When the preceding dough-sheet has been completely out and the secondaryconveyor 50 is empty, the operator may-again actuate the switch a and,in the manner previously describedJeed the next succeeding dough-sheetforwardly onto the secondary conveyor 50. However, inasmuch as thesprocket initialposition under the pull of the spring at, ullriscqnnected to the-shaft 45 by 'means' of the roller friction clutchI9, this forward movement of the conveyor 50 will not be transmitted tothe links 13, and arm 15, and, therefore, the lay- I Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A- biscuit machineincluding an apertured die-plate for receiving asubstantially flat doughsheet, a head-plate mounted for fiatwisereciprocation over the die-plate, a series of spaced cylindricalopen-bottom punch-members depending from said head-plate forcorresponding removable projection into the apertures of the dieplateand through the interposed dough-sheet,

each of said punch-members having adjacent its outer periphery anannular dough-engaging area disposed in a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said punch-member and means for reciprocating thehead-plate and its carried punch-members.

2. A biscuit machine including, in combination, a table for supportingand conveying a dough sheet, a pair of spaced-paralle1 links swingablymounted at their lower ends on the table and extending upwardlytherefrom, a sheeting-drum journaled at its ends in and extendinghorizontally between the link in upwardly spaced relation to the table,and means mounted on the table and engageable with the links forswinging the links to any one of several different positions ofadjustmentand thereby shifting. the drum toward and away from the tablefor correspondingly increasing and decreasing the distance between theunder face of the drum and the upper face of the table and therebyvarying the thickness of the dough sheet.

3. A biscuit machine including, in combination,

a table for supporting and conveying a dough I sheet, avpair of spacedparallel links swingably mounted at their lower ends on the table andextending upwardly therefrom, a sheeting-drum journaled at its ends inand extending horizontally between the link in upwardly spaced relationto the table, a bracket fixed on the table adjacent each of the linksand having a pair of upstanding ears disposed respectively on oppositesides of the link, a rod shiftably mounted at one end in one of theearsand threadedly mounted at its other end in the other of said ears,and a swivel block mounted on the rod intermediate said ears andhaving alaterally extending pin slidably engaged in a slideformed longitudinallydough sheet.

in the link for adjustingthe position of the link and therebyshiftingthe roller toward and away from the table for varying the thickness ofthe WALTER A. THUM.

